PHOTO: Victim Alphaso Grugbaye, age 51
By Emmanuel Koffa
CHENGBETEE, Liberia– Thousands of locals and foreign nationals involved in artisanal gold mining continue to risk their lives with many of them falling victim to accidents, with the latest victims in one of such pits coming out with serious injury in the southeastern Grand Kru County.
A mining accident in Chengbetee Bolloh Statutory District here has left a 51-year-old worker. Alhaso Grugbaye seriously injured, according to a police situation report filed on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
The incident occurred around 1:30pm on January 15, 2026, along the Dorbor River in the Chengbetee bush.
Police authorities said the case was reported by Promise Amanoi, a 25-year-old Ghanaian national of the Gahn tribe and a resident of Chengbetee, who is involved in mining activities in the area.
According to the report, one of Amanoi’s workers, identified as Alphaso Grugbaye, a 51-year-old Liberian national and a resident of Doeswen, reportedly sustained a major injury to his right hand.
The injury reportedly occurred when Grugbaye’s hand came into contact with the engine of a mining machine while at work.
Following the report, officers of the Grand Kru County Police Detachment responded to the Buah Health Center, where the victim had been rushed for emergency care.
According to officials of the Liberia national police, upon arrival, they met Grugbaye in a critical condition.
Due to the severity of the injury, the victim was subsequently referred to Fish Town Hospital for advanced medical treatment.
Police say investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident are ongoing.
In a recent report, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Liberia said EITI “artisanal mining remains absent from Liberia’s official mining statistics.”